Reset device for digit drums in counters

ABSTRACT

A reset device for resetting the digit drums of a counter wherein the drums are coupled by transfer pinions mounted on a shaft which is movable to disengage the transfer pinions from the digit drums during the resetting of the digit drums by reset fingers acting on heart-shaped cams associated with the digit drums, the reset device including a resilient element which is movable with the reset fingers, is engageable with the shaft and defines two stop positions of the shaft relative thereto, the positions being such that on operation of the device the shaft in one stop position is initially moved with the resilient element to disengage the transfer pinions from the digit drums, on further movement of the resilient element during which the reset fingers act on the cams to reset the digit drums, the shaft abuts a stop and the resilient element moves relative thereto to move the shaft into the other stop position, and during the reverse movement of the resilient element the shaft in the other stop position is moved back to reengage the transfer pinions with the digit drums and is thereafter moved relative to the resilient element back into the one stop position thereof.

United States Patent Krauss RESET DEVICE FOR DIGIT DRUMS IN COUNTERS[75] Inventor: Hans Giinter Krauss, Vohrum,

Germany [73] Assignee: Elmeg-Elektro-Mechanik GmbH, Peine, Germany [22]Filed: Jan. 22, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 325,393

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 24, 1972 Germany 2203257[52] US. Cl 235/144 I'IC, 235/144 R, 235/144 SM, 235/133 R, 235/1328[51] Int. Cl .Q. G06c 15/42 [58] Field of Search 235/144 HC, 95 R, 133R, 235/139 R, 139 A 11] 3,835,303 ]'Sept. 10, 1974 PrimaryExaminer-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Vit W. Miska Attorney,Agent, or Firm'Ralf H. Siegemund 5 7] ABSTRACT A reset device forresetting the digit drums of a counter wherein the drums are coupled bytransfer pinions mounted on a shaft which is movable to disengage thetransfer pinions from the digit drums during the resetting of the digitdrums by reset fingers acting on heart-shaped cams associated with thedigit drums, the reset device including a resilient element which ismovable with the reset fingers, is engageable with the shaft and definestwo stop positions of the shaft relative thereto, the positions beingsuch that on operation of the device the shaft in one stop position isinitially moved with the resilient element to disengage the transferpinions from the digit drums, on further movement of the resilientelement during which the reset fingers act on the cams to reset thedigit drums, the shaft abuts a stop and the resilient element movesrelative thereto to move the shaft into the other stop position, andduring the reverse movement of the resilient element the shaft in theother stop position is moved back to reengage the transfer pinions withthe digit drums and is thereafter moved relative to the resilientelement back into the one stop position thereof.

11 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 RESET DEVICE FOR DIGIT DRUMS IN COUNTERSThe invention refers to a reset device for the digit drums of countershaving transfer pinions carried on a common shaft, the transfer pinionsbeing disconnectable from the digit drums during the return movement ofthe digit drums which is effected by reset fingers acting onheart-shaped cams on the digit drums, the disconnection of the transferpinions being limited by a stop.

In known resettable counters of this kind the transfer pinions, whichserve to notch the digit drum of the next higher order of magnitudeforwards one step each time the preceding digit drum has completed onerevolution, are moved out of engagement with the digitdrums during theresetting process, since the digit drums must be freely rotatable duringthe engagement of the reset fingers with the associated heart-shapedcams. In the known counters attempts have been made to so coordinate theaction of the reset fingers on the heart-shaped cams and thedisconnection of the transfer pinions from the digit drums, that thepinions are brought out of engagement with the digit drums before thereset fingers begin to act on the heart-shaped cams, and that after thedisconnection the transfer pinions are reconnected with the digit drumsbefore the reset fingers leave the section of the heart-shaped camscorrespond ing to the zero position of the digit drums. The purpose ofthis time sequence of the cycle of movement is to prevent the digitdrums from being subject to a torque from the resetting before thetransfer pinions have been disconnected, since otherwise the pinions canbe jammed, and to prevent the digit drums from being freely rotatableafter being set to zero and before their reengagement by the transferpinions and hence movable under the effect of vibrations or the like.This time cycle of movement is obtained relatively satisfactorily byknown reset devices. However known devices are relatively costly, sincethey necessitate a multiplicity of components.

In a known type of counter a reset slide guided in a sideplate isprovided, which can be actuated either by hand or electromagnetically.An arm is rotatably supported on this slide, the arm being rigidlyconnected to a resetcam pivotally supported on a spindle and carryingthe reset fingers. A pinion bridge carrying the transfer pinions issupported on this spindle, and a friction coupling is provided betweenthe reset cam and the pinion bridge. When the reset slide is actuated,both the pinion bridge and the reset cam swing round simultaneously. Thepinion bridge is thereby brought out of engagement before the resetfingers have reached the heart-shaped cams of the digit drums. After thepinion bridge has swung out it rests against a stop so that, withfurther movement of the reset slide, the reset fingers can act on theheart-shaped cams, as the reset cam pivots further relative to thepinion bridge. During a return movement of the reset slide which iseffected by a spring, the pinion bridge comes into engagement with thedigit drums before the reset fingers are swung away out of theindentations in the heart-shaped cams corresponding with thezeropositions of the digit drums, because of the friction coupling betweenthe pinion bridge and the reset cam. After the reengagement of thetransfer pinions, the reset cam again swings round relative to thepinion bridge so that the reset fingers leave the indentations in theheart-shaped cams.

In spite of the generally satisfactory operation of this reset device ithas disadvantages, since it requires, for the friction coupling,separate spring members and, because of its construction, a multiplicityof components, whereby the production of a counter equipped with thisreset device is relatively costly. This is particularly so, since themany different components also call for a not inconsiderable expense inassembly.

In the case of an improved form of counter, known from German Pat. No.1,143,348, the reset cam has a striker lying between two stops on thereset slide, by which the reset cam can be pivoted. The pinion bridgesupported on the same shaft is connected with the reset slide via anoperating spring which bears on the axle of the transfer pinions and thestriker. This spring also serves as a toggle spring for the striker. Inthis counter, upon actuating the reset slide the pinion bridge is firstof all swung over because of the operating spring connection. Next thestriker comes into engagement with one stop on the reset slide, thereset cam swings further and the digit drums are brought into the zeroposition. In this position the reset cam is held by the spring acting onthe striker, so that on return of the reset slide, the transfer pinionsfirst of all swing inwards again and then, by the action of the otherstop on the striker, the reset cam is returned to its starting position.This form of counter also requires a multiplicity of components whichlead to increased costs both in production and assembly.

In a further known counter, a reset cam and a pinion bridge aresupported on a common shaft, the pinion bridge and the reset cam beingpressed together by a spring. On the reset slide of this counter twostops are provided, one of which presses the pinion bridge in thedirection of the digit drums when the reset slide is not being actuated,whilst the other acts directly on the reset cam whenthe reset slide isactuated. When the reset slide is actuated both the reset cam and thepinion bridge are consequently swung across because of the spring. Inthis case the paths of swing are so proportioned that the transferpinions come out of engagement before the reset fingers can act upon theheartshaped cams. When the digit drums are brought into the zeroposition by the action of the reset ,fingers on the heart-shaped earns,the reset fingers drop into indentations in the heart-shaped cams. Inthis position the reset cam is locked by a spring-loaded blockinglever.This lever is raised by the reset slide as it goes back, when thetransfer pinions have come into engagement with the digit drums again.Here too a separate spring and a multiplicity of components are requiredfor the reset device.

In summary it can be said of the above described known reset devicesthat they all have the same disadvantage which is that they require amultiplicity of complicated components which, in relation to productionand assembly, are fairly expensive and affect the overall price of thecounter not inconsiderably According to the present invention there isprovided a reset device for resetting the digit drums of a counterhaving transfer pinions carried on a common shaft, which aredisengageable from the digit drums during the return movement of thedigit drums which is effected by reset fingers acting on heart-shapedcams on the digit drums, and the disengaging movement of the transferpinions being limited by a stop, the reset device including a resilientelement which acts on the shaft and is movable during movement of thereset fingers to reset the digit drums, the resilient element definingtwo stop positions for the shaft arranged so that, after the shaft inthe first stop position has been moved to disengage the transfer pinionsfrom the digit drums, the shaft is moved intorthe second stop positionduring further movement of the reset fingers and, during the reversemovement, after the shaft has been moved to reengage the transferpinions with the digit drums, the shaft is moved back again into thefirst stop position.

Thus the transfer pinions can be brought out of engagement with thedigit drums before the reset fingers begin to act on the heart-shapedcams and the transfer pinions, after disengagement, are reengaged withthe digit drums before the reset fingers leave the sections of theheart-shaped cams corresponding with the zero position of the digitdrums. Because of this, it is impossible for the digit drums to besubjected to a resetting torque before the transfer pinions aredisengaged, and further that the digit drums are not freely rotatableafter being set to zero and before reengagement by the transfer pinionsand hence cannot then move under the effect of vibration and the like.

This reset device provides the possibility of an essentially simplerconstruction than the above described known devices with a considerablereduction in the number of components and correspondingly smaller outlayon assembly. Through the reduction in the number of components, theinertia of the moving parts of the device is also considerably reducedso that the cycle ofoperation, which in the case of the known resetdevices can be put at risk because of the inertia involved, is improved.

Although the resilient element can have various designs, in a preferredembodiment the element comprises two resilient tongues between which theshaft lies and which have spaced arcuate recesses defining the two stoppositions.

The resilient element may, alternatively, comprise a single tongue, inwhich case the shaft of the transfer pinions is supported in slots inthe sideplate of the counter and the tongue has two arcuate recesses.However, in this embodiment the shaft during sliding rubs in the slots,which with the embodiment of the resilient element comprising twotongues is avoided, since in this embodiment the shaft can be mainlysupported by the spring tongues only and, for example, when tworesilient elements are provided they can be the sole support of theshaft, the slots in the sideplates being omitted.

The reset device may include a pivotable pinion bridge, the pinionbridge and the resilient element being integral. This embodiment can bevery simply and economically assembled because the pinion bridge andresilient element are one piece. The reset fingers may be provided on apivotable reset bridge, the reset bridge, the pinion bridge and theresilient element being integral.

Alternatively a reset slide may be provided which is integral with theresilient element and the reset fingers. The reset slide is, in thisembodiment, preferably guided so that it is slidable lengthwise, and areset finger for each digit drum is provided on the slide, the resilientelement being arranged at the end of the slide facing the shaft. In theembodiment no angular movement, only a linear movement, occurs. All theparts effecting the resetting of the digit drums and the disengagementof the pinions are thereby united into a single part.

In both the above embodiments with a reset slide and reset bridge, thetransfer pinions may be provided with a circumferential groove and thereset bridge or the reset slide may be provided with ribs which arecontinuously engageable with the grooves in the transfer pinions andaxially guide the digit drums.

By this means the digit drums and the transfer pinions can be guidedprecisely in their axial alignment with one another in a simple manner.For this purpose in the known reset devices spacing washers or likemembers i are provided, which must be assembled exactly bytime-consuming tedious labour, so that the digit drums and the transferpinions mesh together in the required manner. The assembly of thecounter is thus made easy by use of the reset devices as above describedbecause any work of adjustment of the mutual alignment of the digitdrums and transfer pinions is eliminated. This leads to a significantsaving in cost.

For good guidance of the digit drums the digit drums are preferablyprovided at their hubs with collars and the ribs are so formed that theyremain continuously in the zone of the collars. By this means the digitdrums are guided at their collars against axialmovement, and between thecollars and the ribs there is only a small area of friction.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a counter provided with a reset device inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the counter as in FIG. 1, and

' FIG. 3 is a side elevation of another embodiment of a reset device inaccordance with the invention.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 only those parts of the counter necessaryfor anunderstanding of the invention are shown. Thus the nearer sideplate ofthe counter is for the sake of clarity omitted and only the furthersideplate l is shown. Between the two sideplates digit drums3 arerotatably supported on a common shaft 2. These digit drums are providedwith internal heart-shaped cams 4 which are used in resetting the drums3.

The shaft 2 of the digit drums 3 extends through a slot 5 in a resetslide 6 which, at its front end, is formed as a reset button 7. Atension spring 9 is attached by one end to an extension 8 of thesideplate l and at its other end engages in an ear 10 which is fitted toa pinion bridge 11.

This pinion bridge 11 is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis 12.At its free end the bridge is formed as a beak-shaped resilient element13 which has two resilient tongues 14 and 15 which are provided witharcuate recesses defining two stop-positions 16 and 17 for a shaft 18 onwhich the transfer pinions 19 are rotatably supported.

A reset bridge 20 is formed integrally in one piece with the pinionbridge 11. The bridge 20 includes ribs 21, which guide the digit drums 3therebetween and each provide one reset finger 22 projecting laterallytherefrom. A stub axle 23 projecting laterally from the reset slide 6 isin engagement with the pinion bridge 11 so that, when the reset button 7is actuated, the fingers 22 act upon the associated internalheart-shaped cams 4 of the digit drums 3. The edges 24 of the ribs 21remote from the axis of pivot are so formed that during the swing of thereset bridge they move past and close to the shaft 2 of the digit drums.The digit drums 3 are provided with collars 25, which are prevented bythe ribs 21 on both sides from shifting axially.

The transferpinions 19 each have a central circumferential groove 26into each of which one of the ribs 21 extends, the ribs each having, inthe zone of the grooves, a shaped edge so that they engage continuouslyin the grooves. Because of this both the digit drums and the transferpinions are guided and maintained in their required mutual alignment; Itis thus not necessary to align the digit drums and the pinions axiallyby spacer washers.

When the reset button 7 is pressed, the integral pinion bridge 11, resetbridge 20 and element 13 are pivoted about the axis 12 until thetransfer pinions 19 come to rest against a stop 27. If movement of thereset slide 6 is continued in the same direction, the shaft 18 leavesthe stop position 17 and moves to the stop position 16. On releasing thereset button 7, the slide 6 will move in the opposite direction'underthe bias of the spring 9. The transfer pinions are consequentlyreengaged with the digit drums 3, whereupon, with contin ued returnmovement of the reset slide 6, the shaft 18 moves from the stop position16 into the stop position 17.

Thus the transfer pinions are disengaged before the reset fingers 22 acton the heart-shaped cams and afterwards reengage with the digit drumsbefore the reset fingers 22 leave the notches 28 provided in theinternal heart-shaped cams 4.

The embodiment of a reset device shown in FIG. 3 comprises a reset slide29 which has at the end facing the shaft 18, a beak-shaped resilientelement 13' which resembles that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This resetslide 29 is provided with ribs 21 which guide the digit drums 3 and areeach provided with a reset finger 22' projecting laterally therefrom andwhich acts on the associated heart-shaped cam when the reset slide ismoved.

In this embodiment there is, in comparison with the embodiment of FIGS.1 and 2, only one undivided part which combines the functions of thereset slide 6, pinion bridge ll, spring 13 and reset bridge 20 of thatembodiment. The manufacture of the otherwise necessary components isthereby eliminated as well as the assembly of all the components, sincethe undivided part 29, 21', 13' can be very simply for example, byinjection-moulding synthetics plastics materials produced and insertedwithout difficulty in the counter. The shaft 18' is in this casepreferably guided in slots 30 in the sideplates, though it can merely beheld in the resilient elements 13' of which there are preferably two.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to theembodiments illustrated and described. Numerous variants are possiblewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus it isfor example possible to form the resilient element in other shapes andto provide, instead of a beakshaped resilient element, a single springtongue with corresponding curvilinear recesses. Instead of suchrecesses, cam-shaped projections may be provided for the same purpose.Furthermore in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the transfer pinions can beprovided with circumferential grooves and the ribs 21' becorrespondingly formed so that the transfer pinions are axially guidedby them.

I claim:

1. In a reset device for resetting the digit drums of a counter havingtransfer pinions carried on a common shaft, which are disengageable fromthe digit drums during the return movement of the digit drums which iseffected by reset fingers acting on heart-shaped cams on the digitdrums, the disengaging movement of the transfer pinions being limited bya stop, the improvement comprising a movably mounted resilient elementfor journalling and holding the shaft and being movable during movementof the reset fingers as resetting the digit drums;

means for obtaining movement of the reset fingers and of the resilientelement;

the resilient element defining first and second stop positions forholding and rotatably supporting the shaft in either stop position,while impeding displacement of the shaft when in either position byresilient reaction, the resilient element having normal disposition, sothat with the shaft in the first stop position, the digit drums engagethe transfer pinions, the resilient means disposed for movement along apath, the stop positions in the resilient means being on said path, saidpath being radial with respect to an engaging disposition of the digitdrums and of the transfer pinions;

the resilient element upon being moved by operation of the means forobtaining movement, holding the shaft as remaining in the first stopposition for obtaining disengagement of the transfer pinions from thedigit drums;

means having disposition for engaging the shaft for displacing the shaftagainst resilient reaction by the resilient means from the first to thesecond stop position subsequent to said disengagement and during furthermovement of the. resilient element and the reset fingers;

- during the reverse movement of the resilient element, by operation ofreverse movement of the means for obtaining movement, the shaftdisengaging from the means for engaging for remaining in the secondposition in the resilient means and moving therewith to obtainreengagement of the transfer pinions with the digit drums; and

the transfer pinions engage and are being held by the digit drums uponcontinuation of said reverse movement, so that the shaft is being movedback from the second stop position into the first stop position, fornormally rotatably supporting the shaft.

2. A reset device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resilient elementcomprises two resilient tongues disposed in resilient relationship onopposite sides of the shaft and have arcuate recesses spaced along theirlength for defining the first and second stop positions.

3. A reset device as claimed in claim 1, including a pivotable pinionbridge for the shaft, the pinion bridge and the resilient element beingintegral, the pinion bridge pivoting about a point spaced apart from theshaft, the means for obtaining movement pivoting the pinion bridge.

4. A reset device as claimed in claim 3, the reset fingers beingprovided on a pivotable reset bridge, and the reset bridge, the pinionbridge and resilient element being integral.

5. A reset device as claimed in claim 1 the means for obtainingmovement, including a reset slide formed integrally with the resilientelement and the reset fingers.

6. A reset device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the transfer pinionsare each provided with a circumferential groove and the reset bridge isprovided with ribs which are continuously engageable with the groovesand axially guide the digit drums.

7. A reset device as claimed in claim 6, said digit drums respectivelyhaving hubs, the hubs of the digit drums being provided with collars andthe ribs are being formed so that they remain continuously in the zoneof the collars.

8. A reset device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the resilient elementcomprises two resilient tongues which lie resiliently on each side ofthe shaft and have arcuate recesses spaced along their length anddefining the two stop positions.

9. A reset device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the transfer pinionsare each provided with a circumferential groove and the reset slide isprovided with ribs which are continuously engageable with the groovesand axially guide the digit drums.

10. A reset device as claimed in claim 9, said digit drums having hubsand wherein the hubs of the digit drums are provided with collars andthe ribs are so formed that they remain continuously in the zone of thecollars.

11. A reset device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the resilient elementcomprises two resilient tongues which lie resiliently on each side ofthe shaft and have arcuate recesses spaced along their length anddefining the two stop positions.

1. In a reset device for resetting the digit drums of a counter havingtransfer pinions carried on a common shaft, which are disengageable fromthe digit drums during the return movement of the digit drums which iseffected by reset fingers acting on heart-shaped cams on the digitdrums, the disengaging movement of the transfer pinions being limited bya stop, the improvement comprising a movably mounted resilient elementfor journalling and holding the shaft and being movable during movementof the reset fingers as resetting the digit drums; means for obtainingmovement of the reset fingers and of the resilient element; theresilient element defining first and second stop positions for holdingand rotatably supporting the shaft in either stop position, whileimpeding displacement of the shaft when in either position by resilientreaction, the resilient element having normal disposition, so that withthe shaft in the first stop position, the digit drums engage thetransfer pinions, the resilient means disposed for movement along apath, the stop positions in the resilient means being on said path, saidpath being radial with respect to an engaging disposition of the digitdrums and of the transfer pinions; the resilient element upon beingmoved by operation of the means for obtaining movement, holding theshaft as remaining in the first stop position for obtainingdisengagement of the transfer pinions from the digit drums; means havingdisposition for engaging the shaft for displacing the shaft againstresilient reaction by the resilient means from the first to the secondstop position subsequent to said disengagement and during furthermovement of the resilient element and the reset fingers; during thereverse movement of the resilient element, by operation of reversemovement of the means for obtaining movement, the shaft disengaging fromthe means for engaging for remaining in the second position in theresilient means and moving therewith to obtain reengagement of thetransfer pinions with the digit drums; and the transfer pinions engageand are being held by the digit drums upon continuation of said reversemovement, so that the shaft is being moved back from the second stopposition into the first stop position, for normally rotatably supportingthe shaft.
 2. A reset device as claimed in claim 1, wherein theresilient element comprises two resilient tongues disposed in resilientrelationship on opposite sides of the shaft and have arcuate recessesspaced along their length for defining the first and second stoppositions.
 3. A reset device as claimed in claim 1, including apivotable pinion bridge for the shaft, the pinion bridge and theresilient element being integral, the pinion bridge pivoting about apoint spaced apart from the shaft, the means for obtaining movementpivoting the pinion bridge.
 4. A reset device as claimed in claim 3, thereset fingers being provided on a pivotable reset bridge, and the resetbridge, the pinion bridge and resilient element being integral.
 5. Areset device as claimed in claim 1 the means for obtaining movement,including a reset slide formed integrally with the resilient element andthe reset fingers.
 6. A reset device as claimed in claim 4, wherein thetransfer pinions are each provided with a circumferential groove and thereset bridge is provided with ribs which are continuously engageablewith the grooves and axially guide the digit drums.
 7. A reset device asclaimed in claim 6, said digit drums respectively having hubs, the hubsof the digit drums being provided with collars and the ribs are beingformed so that they remain continuously in the zone of the collars.
 8. Areset device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the resilient elementcomprises two resilient tongues which lie resiliently on each side ofthe shaft and have arcuate recesses spaced along their length anddefining the two stop positions.
 9. A reset device as claimed in claim5, wherein the transfer pinions are each provided with a circumferentialgroove and the reset slide is provided with ribs which are continuouslyengageable with the grooves and axially guide the digit drums.
 10. Areset device as claimed in claim 9, said digit drums having hubs andwherein the hubs of the digit drums are provided with collars and theribs are so formed that they remain continuously in the zone of thecollars.
 11. A reset device as claimed in claim 10, wherein theresilient element comprises two resilient tongues which lie resilientlyon each side of the shaft and have arcuate recesses spaced along theirlength and defining the two stop positions.